Author: Kristi Wilson

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Remember the Past

I am so thankful for a good memory. It’s very important to me to remember the past. From those memories I draw encouragement for the present and hope for the future. The last few days I have been recounting the events of five years ago; that’s when we left Montana and came back to Arizona.

What an answer to prayer!

We said good bye to some very dear friends and we started our journey. We didn’t get far on our first day but the first steps were taken and that’s what was important. Each day we take steps in following the Lord. Each day, each step brings us closer to Him.

Sometimes we end up walking a new ground without the familiar love and support we have known. It’s in those “alone” times that we deepen in our relationship with the Father and listen more intently for the voice of the Holy Spirit as He gives us direction.

“The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need. 2 He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water. 3 He restores my strength. He leads me on right paths to show that he is good. 4 Even if I walk through a valley as dark as the grave, I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me.” Psalm 23:1-4 ERV

Forward progress doesn’t always come in great distances covered. More often it comes from moment by moment, hour by hour, mile by mile forward movement in developing who we are in Christ. It’s important to stop and rest – to come aside, to be refreshed and then to pick up and begin again, faithfully following and moving forward in what the Lord has called us to do today.

Five years ago, we were excited about our move to AZ, we were joined on our journey by our son Koy and his girlfriend Kym. They met us in Salt Lake City and helped us complete the drive and the unpack at our new home. We so appreciated that, it’s good to have help for difficult chores.

You may not know the exact destination on your journey, you might be like the Apostle Paul who wrote these words of encouragement:

“I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. 14 I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven. 15 All of us who have grown to be spiritually mature should think this way too. And if there is any of this that you don’t agree with, God will make it clear to you. 16 But we should continue following the truth we already have.” Philippians 3:12-16 ERV

Let memories of your past bring you hope and encouragement. The Father will never abandon us!

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Facing the Sun

This morning I will be recycling a devotional for the blog from a few years back. Our friends are leaving in a couple hours and I want to send them on their way with a good hearty breakfast. To make the most of my time, I decided to reuse a teaching from the past.

The teachings from God’s word are timeless. This one struck a chord with me – I’m still growing in Christ. That’s something I want to do everyday. I hope you do too.

So many times we think that growing as a Christian means we are becoming more like Jesus in the things we say and do. I believe that should be our goal. For years, I tried to be more like Christ; trying hard to do the right things, keeping my attitude in check, putting others first, etc. I wanted to make sure I was reading my Bible, attending church, tithing, serving; but those things were really works of the my own selfish effort. Those are the things that good Christians do, right?

“Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen” II Peter 3:18 CEV

We are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. That’s where the change comes. My works will be frustrating and futile and my relationship with Him will be shallow but if I allow His word to do work in me, my growth will be permanent and lasting.

God’s amazing grace covers me when I fall, picks me up, encourages me to keep going and not lose hope. When I began to realize what grace truly was, growing in it, my relationship with the Father and with Jesus began to grow.

Knowledge of His deep unconditional love brought me from a place of working for the Lord to letting Him work in and through me.

I love the example that sunflowers give us. Each morning their heads are bowed but as the sun appears they lift and become strong and tall. They face the sun, soaking in its rays, basking in it’s warmth, finding strength. They remind me that each day I should face the Son and let His light change my life.

“Our Lord and our God, you are like the sun and also like a shield. You treat us with kindness and with honor, never denying any good thing to those who live right. 12 Lord God All-Powerful, you bless everyone who trusts you.” Psalm 84:11-12 CEV

Face the Son! You’ll gain strength and warmth from Him.

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Trail Blazers

Each day takes us somewhere new; somewhere we have never been before. Our house might be the same; our place of business and our co-workers may not have changed but the day is new and so that makes the situations different and unique. With each day we are trail blazers following God’s plan.

Five years ago today everything we owned was either in a U-Haul box van or in the back of the Excursion. We said good bye to neighbors and friends and left Montana for our home in Arizona.

I think we felt like the children of Israel coming to the Promised Land. We had been marching in the wilderness for more years than we had cared to admit. Trying to do things our way and not realizing what the Lord was directing us to do was frustrating to say the least. All that time we “thought” we were following the Lord but we had missed the trail.

When good things would happen we would give Him glory and when times were tough we were praying and asking His direction. However, many times we would go with the thing that “seemed right” and logical instead of really waiting to see if that’s what He wanted.

God was always faithful. His arms were always open wide and His love was always unconditional!

Five years later, we can look back and see how He did guide us even when we chose the path and how He brought us full circle to bring us Home!

Thank you Father for your faithfulness.

“You are my God. I worship you. In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert. 2 I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship. 3 Your love means more than life to me, and I praise you. 4 As long as I live, I will pray to you. 5 I will sing joyful praises and be filled with excitement like a guest at a banquet. 6 I think about you before I go to sleep, and my thoughts turn to you during the night. 7 You have helped me, and I sing happy songs in the shadow of your wings. 8 I stay close to you, and your powerful arm supports me.” Psalm 63:1-8 CEV

“My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” vs 8

Five years later we have such joy to know that the Lord led us here. It’s Jesus who goes before us leading the way, setting the course. We need to listen as He says this is the way – walk in it and be obedient.

“So you people must be careful to do everything the Lord commanded you. Do not stop following God! 33 You must live the way the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will continue to live, and everything will be fine with you. You will live a long life in the land that will belong to you.” Deuteronomy 5:32-33 ERV

Happy Trails!

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Tell Me Bout the Good Old Days

We have friends visiting with us for the weekend. They have served the Lord for many years as pastors, missionaries, Bible study leaders and Mom and Dad.

Yesterday, we spent a good portion of the afternoon and evening talking about God’s faithfulness. They shared stories with us of times that things seemed hopeless and desperate. And we shared similar times with them. Each and every time we were able to share with each other had the Lord had moved miraculously and how He provided for all our needs.

God is faithful!

There were stories of the Lord providing financially, others where He brought physical healings and some where the Lord filled our lives with peace and direction. How great is our God!!

We were able to agree that God’s word was always a source of comfort and direction. It brought us strength when we had felt weak and searching for answers. We have seen the Lord provide for us from His goodness and also seen His hand reaching out to our children and our grandchildren.

The stories were testimony to God’s goodness and His love! It’s so important that we look back and recall how it used to be – the good and the bad – because in this we can see God’s faithfulness and His provision. Moses told the children of Israel to retell the stories of how God provided for them from the deliverance out of Egypt to arriving at the Promised Land.

“Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only true God! 5 So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. 6 Memorize his laws 7 and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning.” Deuteronomy 6:6-8 CEV

We need to be storytellers of God’s goodness.

“My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. 3 You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. 4 But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.5 If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. ” James 1:2-5 CEV

Last night we had joy as we recalled the wonderful things the Lord had done and continues to do. The things we faced as mountains were removed when we trusted God and His word. It’s important that we retell these stories so that others will know of God’s faithfulness.

I had the words of a country song come to mind this morning as I was thinking on last night’s conversation.

“Grandpa (Grandma), tell me bout the good old days
Sometimes it feels like
This world’s gone crazy
Grandpa, take me back to yesterday
When the line between right and wrong
Didn’t seem so hazy

Did lovers really fall in love to stay
And stand beside each other, come what may?
Was a promise really something people kept
Not just something they would say?
Did families really bow their heads to pray?
Did daddies really never go away?
Oh, Grandpa, tell me ’bout the good old days” The Judds

Let’s take the time to tell our grandkids ’bout the good ol days and the faithfulness of our God!

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A New Set of Clothes

Everyone likes a new set of clothes. When we were kids, it was fun to go to the store and get a new dress or jeans and shoes for the first day of school. Or perhaps you’re memory bank takes you to a particular dress you wore for Christmas or Easter. I know guys, you didn’t wear a dress but you looked spiffy in your new trousers and shirt.

You might still be in your jammies like I am this morning. Have you decided on something red, white and blue to wear to commemorate the Memorial Day remembrance?

What are you wearing?

The Apostle Paul uses a phrase in several of his letters to the Christian churches; put off and put on. In the verses I read today he explains his thought behind that phrase.

“All of you are God’s children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes. 28 Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman. 29 So if you belong to Christ, you are now part of Abraham’s family, and you will be given what God has promised.” Galatians 3:26-29 CEV

“Putting on Christ” like a new set of clothes.

Have you ever been out in the snow and gotten really wet and cold? First thing you want to do is get in and get warm; maybe take a warm/hot shower and then put on some clean, warm, dry clothes. Oh that feels good! Draw that flannel or fleece shirt around you, put on some sweat pants or maybe a pair of long johns and then get some fuzzy socks or slippers – yes, warm clothes are the best!

But how did you get out of those old, wet, cold clothes? Don’t over analyze – the answer is simple. Think – how did you do it? Answer: you took them off! See, I told you it was simple. You didn’t wait for the clothes to magically fall off or for some great force or power to overwhelm you and remove them from your body; you took them off.

That’s how it is in our Christian life, it’s up to us to take off the old and put on the new. It’s not going to be a miraculous or magical overpowering act of God. It’s up to us. God says I have planned a new life for you. Here’s your new self and with it will come the blessing of being in right relationship with me. Take off that dirty, sinful, cold, destructive lifestyle and put on your life “in Christ”. This new life is offered freely to all; it is inclusive, it’s for whosoever will. No one is bigger or better than anyone else, we all must come through Christ and we all receive the same place of sonship.

“Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children. 15 God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. 16 God’s Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. 17 His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.” Romans 8:14-17

Those clothes that you took off may have been your favorite outfit; they have defined you to your family and friends but let them go. Let your new outfit define you – people will say “they used to always act that way but now there’s something different”. Yes, there is – it’s that you have put on your new life “in Christ”.

“You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. 23 Let the Spirit change your way of thinking 24 and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy. 25 We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth. 26 Don’t get so angry that you sin. Don’t go to bed angry 27 and don’t give the devil a chance.

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Be honest and work hard, so you will have something to give to people in need. 29 Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say. 30 Don’t make God’s Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins. 31 Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. 32 Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ. ” Ephesians 4:22-32 CEV

Take off the old and put on the new, enjoy your life in Christ!

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Beautiful Gifts

I was reading this morning of Solomon and his dedication of the Temple. King David, Solomon’s father, had gathered the treasury necessary for building the Temple but the Lord gave the task of construction to Solomon.

When the Temple was finished and the people were gathered for the dedication, Solomon prayed a prayer of thanksgiving honoring the Lord for His faithfulness and for His promise to “dwell” with His people.  And then Solomon prayed over the people of Israel. Look at what he says.

“When Solomon prayed this prayer to the Lord, he was on his knees in front of the Lord’s altar and his arms were raised toward heaven. When he finished praying, he stood up. 55 Then, in a loud voice, he asked God to bless all the people of Israel. Solomon said,

56 ‘Praise the Lord! He promised to give rest to his people, Israel. And he has given us rest! He used his servant Moses and made many good promises to the people of Israel. And he has kept every one of them! 57 I pray that the Lord our God will be with us, as he was with our ancestors. I pray that he will never leave us. 58 I pray that we will turn to him and follow him. Then we will obey all the laws, decisions, and commands that he gave our ancestors. 59 I pray that the Lord our God will always remember this prayer and what I have asked. I pray that he will do these things for his servant, the king, and for his people, Israel. I pray that he will do this every day. 60 If he will do these things, all the people of the world will know that the Lord is the only true God. 61 You people must be loyal and true to the Lord our God. You must always follow and obey all of his laws and commands. You must continue to obey in the future as you do now.” I Kings 8: 54-61 CEV

Here was Solomon’s reminder to the people. “He (God) used his servant Moses and made many good promises to the people of Israel. And He has kept every one of them!”  God keeps His word. He kept it to Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon and the Israelites and He keeps His word to us today.

And here is the key – it isn’t so we can walk around bragging arrogantly about how much the Lord has blessed us but the blessings (gifts) we receive are so the world can know God.

“If he will do these things, all the people of the world will know that the Lord is the only true God.” vs 60

God gives and keeps His word so that all the world will know that the Lord is the only true God! So much in this world changes – you’ve heard it said “everything is relative”. That may apply to man’s plans and programs but not to God.

The word of the Lord stands forever. In our Father, there is no variableness or shadow of turning. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  God’s love, his truth, his mercy and his grace will endure. What greater gifts can we receive from the Lord than His grace, mercy and peace?

“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from his Son, Jesus Christ, as we live in truth and love.” II John 1:3 ERV

“Jesus has the power of God. And his power has given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus chose us by his glory and goodness, 4 through which he also gave us the very great and rich gifts that he promised us. With these gifts you can share in being like God. And so you will escape the ruin that comes to people in the world because of the evil things they want.” II Peter 1:3-4 ERV

John and Peter are telling us the same thing that Solomon told the Israelites at the Temple dedication. God promises to do wonderful things in our life, we are the beneficiaries of His blessings. However, the blessings (gifts) are two-fold. They strengthen and encourage our lives but they also serve as a sign to the world of God’s goodness.

God’s gifts are His promises!

Thank you Father! Heaven and earth may pass away but Your word, your promises, will remain forever!

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Camp In God’s Word

When we lived in the Northwest it seems our first camping trip of the year came on Memorial Day weekend. We enjoyed getting away with friends, back to nature and the creek side.

Do you like to camp? As a kid I grew up camping with my folks. In the different places we lived, there was always a lake or river close by and we would go for the day, the weekend or even a week at a time. It was great! Fishing, campfires, hot chocolate, card games, marshmellows and the stars! So peaceful and life was simple and unhurried. Awe yes, I love camping.

I don’t just like to camp by a lake or a stream. I like to camp in God’s word. One of my favorite places to camp spiritually is in the Psalms and a favorite campsite is Psalm 1. And then in that campsite my favorite spot is verses 1-3.

“God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God. 2 Instead, the Law of the Lord makes them happy, and they think about it  day and night. 3 They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do.” Psalm 1:1-3 CEV

With Memorial Day coming, many of you will be getting away for a camping trip or a short vacation. Why not take time today to camp by a stream of living water, rest in the grass of green pastures and enjoy the warmth of the Son?

God’s word is a great place to camp and enjoy the Creator!

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Like Father Like Son

I’ve heard people say from time to time that there’s really no instruction manual for parenthood. It’s one of the hardest jobs there is, next to marriage, and there seems to be no training manual or skills course. But really that’s not true.

We simply need to open the pages of our Bible and there we have the instruction we need. This morning I was reading King David’s final words to his son, Solomon. Here’s what David had to say.

“The time came for David to die, so he gave these commands to Solomon, 2 “I am about to die, like all men must. But you are growing stronger and becoming a man. 3 Now, carefully obey all the commands of the Lord your God. Carefully obey all his laws, commands, decisions, and agreements. Obey everything that is written in the Law of Moses. If you do this, you will be successful at whatever you do and wherever you go.” I Kings 2:1-4 ERV

Sound familiar? This was almost the exact same words that Moses told Joshua when he was about to die and Joshua was to take over as leader of the nation of Israel. This is the same advice that we need as parents.

Obey the Lord’s commands and we will be successful in whatever we do and wherever we go. This is great advice for us as parents. Here is one of my favorite group of verses from the Psalms.

“Thinking about your teachings gives me better understanding than my teachers, 100 and obeying your laws makes me wiser than those who have lived a long time. 101 I obey your word instead of following a way that leads to trouble. 102 You have been my teacher,  and I won’t reject your instructions. 103 Your teachings are sweeter than honey.” Psalm 119:99-103 CEV

This is God’s promise to us. If we respect His word and follow His teachings we will be wise and stay out of trouble. King David lived these words, he knew the strength and wisdom to be drawn from the Lord. His final instruction to his son was to keep God’s word. It would be a source of strength to Solomon as well.

Solomon took his father’s words to heart. Here is the request he made to the Lord when his father died.

“Solomon answered, “You were very kind and loyal to your servant, my father David. He was faithful to you and lived a good, honest life. And you showed him the greatest kindness when you let his son take his place as king. 7 Lord my God, you have made me the king in my father’s place, but I am like a small child. I don’t have the wisdom I need to do what I must do. 8 I am your servant here among your chosen people. There are so many that they cannot be counted. 9 So I ask you to give me the wisdom to rule and judge them well and to help me know the difference between right and wrong. Without such great wisdom, it would be impossible to rule this great nation.”

10 The Lord was happy that Solomon asked for wisdom. ” I Kings 3:6-10 ERV

Solomon wanted wisdom more than anything else. He wanted direction – to know right from wrong. He wanted the ability to lead well. Isn’t that what we all want as parents and grandparents, the ability to lead well?

I found myself praying that this morning. “Lord, I want to lead well. I want to continue in my knowledge of You so that my children and grandchildren know Your word and the importance of making it first place in their lives.” This has been a prayer of dedication that I have prayed for many years, however, it all came back to me this morning as I was reflecting on our oldest granddaughter’s birthday.

Solomon, who wrote the book of Proverbs, made this statement in the first few verses of that book.

“These are the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel. 2 They will help you learn to be wise, to accept correction, and to understand wise sayings. 3 They will teach you to develop your mind in the right way. You will learn to do what is right and to be honest and fair. 4 These proverbs will make even those without education smart. They will teach young people what they need to know and how to use what they have learned. 5 Even the wise could become wiser by listening to these proverbs. They will gain understanding and learn to solve difficult problems. 6 These sayings will help you understand proverbs, stories with hidden meanings, words of the wise, and other difficult sayings.

7 Knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn. 8 My son, listen to your father when he corrects you, and don’t ignore what your mother teaches you. 9 What you learn from your parents will bring you honor and respect, like a crown or a gold medal.” Proverbs 1:1-9 ERV

Neither David or Solomon were perfect parents. Matter of fact, there has only been one perfect parent, God, the Father. If we follow His instruction we will do a much better job than if we try to make it on our own.

“Father, it’s my desire to be like you. I want to love like You, teach like You, give counsel like You and have my words be Yours. It is my desire to reflect Your character in all I do.”

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Recipes for Worms

Ever have one of those pity parties where it’s just you and your emotions? I have to admit that occasionally I still find myself setting the table for that kind of gathering and I have to call myself on it and cancel the party because I know it doesn’t please the Father.

As a kid, I’m sure you all said this little chant once or twice. “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I’ll go eat worms. Big fat juicy ones, little tiny scrawny ones, oh, how they do .” Ya, I know kids stuff right? Not so much – that feeling is all to prevalent in adults as well but we just don’t sing the chant. Nobody, and I mean nobody, has a good recipe for worm cake so let’s just not go there.

The feeling that I’m all alone and that nobody really understands me, appreciates me or cares about me can be overwhelming. We’ve all had people let us down, turn against us or just ignore us as if we don’t exist. But! There is One who promises to never leave us or forsake us.

“God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.” Now that’s good news but let me give it to you from the Amplified version.

“for He [God] [b]Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor [c]give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [d][I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor [e]let [you] down ([f]relax My hold on you)! [[g]Assuredly not!]
6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5b-6

Now read that again. The Amplified version gives you the depth of the meaning of the words the way they were written in the original language. This is how God feels about you – He’s there for you. He will not leave you!!!! His love never fails.

Jesus has never once accepted my invitation to a pity party. He doesn’t like worm cake. (I know that made you smile.) He does show up and ask me to leave my party and my self-pity and to join Him in a celebration of the Father’s love. He also reminds me not to get side-tracked by the rejection, insults or condemning words that others may speak. He wants me to stay focused on the Father’s word the way he did.

“God wants you to silence stupid and ignorant people by doing right. 16 You are free, but still you are God’s servants, and you must not use your freedom as an excuse for doing wrong. 17 Respect everyone and show special love for God’s people. Honor God and respect the Emperor.” I Peter 2:15-17 CEV

Our real enemy isn’t “stupid or ignorant people”, it is Satan and he would love to destroy our stand for the Lord by getting us to gripe, complain and become angry. He used the same tactics with Jesus. If he can’t do that then he would like us to become so wrapped in self-pity that we are ineffective.

It’s up to us to control our emotions and stay settled on God’s word.

“Great blessings belong to those who suffer persecution for doing what is right.
God’s kingdom belongs to them. 11 “People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do that, know that great blessings belong to you. 12 Be happy about it. Be very glad because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did these same bad things to the prophets who lived before you.” Matthew 5:10-12 CEV

Leave the worm muffins and pie for the birds and the fish. Look up! We are blessed today because God loves us. What can man do to you that could possibly compare to that!!

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Is That All There Is?

The last few days I seem to be emphasizing the importance of knowing God’s plan. I haven’t intentionally set out to make that my theme but when the words begin to roll out of my heart and on to the screen they share the common thread of God’s plan for us.

We’ve almost completed the first half of 2019. I know we have one more month until we are really half way through but it’s about this time that folks begin to readjust their schedules and make new plans. School is coming to an end, graduation day has come, the New Year’s resolutions we made are almost forgotten and we begin to plan for summer vacations.

It’s important that we keep God in the planning process.

God has designed us to have a purpose, a plan, a destiny that is so much greater than anything we can imagine! He sees in us a Christ-like quality and desires to use His power to accomplish great things. If we’re living a life that is comfortable to us and one in which “We” can accomplish what we set out to do, we’re settling for less than what God wants to do through us.

“With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of.” Ephesians 3:20 ERV

Let me encourage you to dream bigger and trust God to direct you to impact your world with what He’s calling you to do – God will use you where you are if you trust Him. Our lives have a design and calling to do great things. We have direction; our purpose is greater than the lyrics from Peggy Lee’s song “Is that all there is?

“The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart). 3 Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:1-3 AMP

Yesterday I heard a pastor talk about verse three above. (It’s one of my favorite verses) He said that the original intention of the verse meant to “roll off a load”. The example he used was one of a camel who was carrying a heavy burden. The way to get the pack off a camel is for it to get down on its knees and then roll to the side so the burden can be removed.

Making plans without the Lord’s guidance can be a heavy load, one we need to roll off and let Him carry. When we trust Him, He will carry the burden and show us how to succeed. Our lives will take on meaning, direction, purpose and there will be no need to ask “is that all there is” because life will be full and abundant.

“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 ERV

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